Brush holder



JUL 9, 1940. T. c. FocKLER ET A. 2,186,240 BRUSH HOLDERv /o f H 4 y WITNESSES: INVENTORS Jan- 9 1940 T. c. FocKLER Err A. 2.186,240

BRUSH HOLDER Filed Feb. 17, 1938 3' Sheets-Sheet 2 5:? 53 55 '62\ T/ I 56 w /5 1&4 lt

I gli i. l?? l n l J '/22 1 la i I wlTNEssEs: INVENTORS Theodore Wrack/97' W' l A e/z M rzerzs. Q U /Q M ATTOR Jan. 9, 1940.

T. c. FocKLER ET Al.

BRUSH HOLDER 3 sheets-sheet 3' Filed Feb. 17, 1938 l denierz'ne f lente/- lne o Erz/:lz Contact 570? Graayef i INJULATIOM INVENToRs Theodore CiF'ac//e l( l g- Marzens. ATTOR WITNESSES:

Patented Jan. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRUSH HOLDER vania l Application February 17, 1938,-Serial No. 191,010

11 Claims.

Our invention refers, generally, to brush holders, and it has particular reference to an improved brush holder for use With dynamo-electric machines.

In the manufacture of brush holders for dynamo-electric machines, many difficulties `are encountered. Since an important requirement of abrush holder is'that it readily permit relative `movement of the brush in the holder to compensate for irregularities in the surface of the commutator, it is important that all surfaces of the brush holder which are in contact with lthe brush .be sufficiently smooth, and that the brush t accurately in the holder.A With most :designs ofl brush holders and methods of manufacturing themythis requires a multiplicity of machining operations on the brush holderfsurfaces, "and maintenance of the brush `dimensions Awithin limited tolerances. Even where these precautions are observed it is not uncommon for subsequent corrosion of a brush holder to cause pitting of the machined surfaces, Whichleadsto f1eezing" `of the brush in the holder, thus preventing it from making satisfactory contact with the commutator korcollector ring. i

Inasmuch as it is usually desirable to have the brush holder body carry a large part of the current collected by the brushes, it is essential that the holder be made of a metal having relatively high conductivity. This requirement greatly limits the choice of materials which may be used. Brass, which would be a desirable material because of its relatively high lconductivity and strength, cannot be economically used in the usual methods of manufacture. If it is cast, vthe surfaces of the brush holder must necessarily be machined to make them suiiiciently smooth, and if a pressed construction is used, the holder mustbe made in several parts and riveted, and a broaching operation of the assembled brush holder performed'to secure a sufficiently accurate'brush t. These operations mean additional time and labor. `and therefore add greatly to the expense of manufacturing- Zinc alloys that are readily adaptable :to production methods, such as die-casting, have the disadvantage of being particularly susceptible to corrosion and electrolysis which in time pit the surfaces of the holder and prevent a -free movement of the brush therein.

v Accordingly,l it may beseen'that any design of :brush holder which will be readily adaptable to Vmass production methods and Will not -have the disadvantages of many of the present typesl of brushl holder, will ll a marked need in the inadustry. And where such design isnot only adaptable to mass production methods,but is also inexpensive to produce and is easily assembled and adjusted, it will be realized that it is a decided improvementover brush holders of the prior art.

'Moreover, where a multiplicity of brushes are to be used in 'parallel on av dynamo-electric machine, and where the usual type of ybrush holder, which is clamped about a supportstud, isused, serious disadvantages arise. It has been found that in many types of present-day dynamof electric machines, accurate positioning of the brushes on the commutator is essential. This is .particularly true withdynamo-electric macl'nes ofthe `cross-'.iield type where slight diiferencesin the relative position of parallel brushes on the commutator result in Aselective commutation, whereby one brush of a group being out-0f alignment carries much more than its proper shart lof the load. Highly undesirable circulating currents may also occur in the armature windings `because of misalignment of the brushes, vresulting in decidedly poor commutation, which lcauses rapid' Wear of the brushes 7and commutator, and renders the machine unstable `underheavy loads.

Furthermore, with the usual type `of brush holder, subsequent adjustments of the holder :to compensatefor reduction in commutator diameter through wear and machining of the commutator toresurface it will'result in a shifting ofthe electrical center of the brush onthe commutator surface. This is particularly so With brush holders wherein an extended holder-support arm isclamped about a support stud at 'some distance from the brush. If adjustment of the holderis made about this support stud, the brush moves along the arc of a circle and its electrical centerof contact With the commutator will therefore shift along the circumference of the commutator when the brush holder is adjustedto compensate `for any decrease in the commutator diameter. lLikewise, with reaction typebrush holders wherein the brush must be maintainedl atan oblique angle to the surface-of the commutator for the holder to function properly, wear of the commutator will result in a gradual shift ofthe electrical center of the brush contact with the commutator as the kbrush slides further down in the holder, thus greatly impairing the commutating characteristics ofthe machine. inasmuch as ygenerators of the cross-field type, though having highly desirable load characteristics,.are peculiarly sensitive to changes ofthe center of brush contact andl misalignment of brushes, ,princi- 'fpa-llyfbecause of the normally short circuited auxiliary brush circuit which is a'characteristic of center of Abrush contact, are indeed an important advancement in the art.

It is, therefore, generally an object of our iny vention to provide a brush holder for a dynamoelectric machine which shall be of simple construction, economical to manufacture and install, and durable and efficient in use.

More specically it is an object of our invention to provide a unitary type reaction brush holder and support member for a dynamoelectric machine, which will require a minimum of machining operations thereon and which may be readily installed and adjusted.

A fur-ther object of our invention is to provide a brush holder for a dynamo-electric machine which may be manufactured by a single forging operation so that a plurality of brushes may be maintained in accurate alignment.

Another object of oui-invention is to provide a unitary brush holder for a dynamo-electric'machine wherein an open brush-.bearing face and an end plate having support means integral therewith may be formed in a desired fixed relation.

Still another object of our invention is to providev a brush holder and support assembly of simple design for accommodating brushes 'of varying thickness wherein a plurality of brushes vmay be aligned against a single common bearing face and the holder may be readily alined by cooperation ofva brush holder support plate and guide members with a support ring.

'A still further object of our invention is toA provide a multiple brush holder device having a single common brush-bearing face and a holder support plate, with guide means for'alining the holder, forged at substantially right angles to each other. I

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope ofour invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:A

Figure 1 is a front view in elevation of a brush holder embodying a preferred form of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front view in elevation of the holder of Fig, 1 complete with brushes in position;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the brush holder of Fig. `3; y

Fig. 5 is a rear view in elevation of an alternate form of brush holder;

Fig 6 is an end view of the holder of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 shows a preferred form of brush holder and support ring assembly; and

F'ig.` 8 is a part view of the brush holder and support ring assembly taken along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7.

- Referring generally to Figure 1, it may be seen that the reference numeral Ill denotes a preferred form of brush holder as 'made' in accordance with oui` invention, havingva body member I2 'provided with an open brush-bearing face I4 'andan end support plate I6 in predetermined relation to each other.

Means for mounting the holder I0 may, as shown, comprise a threaded stud member I8 and a guide member I9, preff erably formed integrally with the support plate I6.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 through 4 of the drawings, it may be seen that the' body member I2 may have a V-shaped cross-section with an upstanding front portion 20 and back portion 2I. The outer face of the front portion 20, which forms the open brush-bearing face I4,

may be provided. with raised end projections 22 which are disposed to prevent lateral movement of the brushes 23 along the face of theA holder. Slots 24 may be provided in the upper edge of the front portion 2li,y while corresponding slots 25 are provided in the back portion 2l of the Inl order to support the'brush biasvupstanding tongue portions 3| of the back portion 2| of the body member, and a common support pin 32 inserted therein.

It may be noted that the brushes 23 are provided with sloping faces 38 at their upper ends against which the iinger members 28 are biased by means of the tension springs 29. In this manner the finger members 28 not only urge the brushes 23 across the bearing face I4 toward the commutator' or collector ring 39, but they also function to maintain the brushes 23 in close engagement with the .bearing face I4 of the holder,.thus securing alignment of all the brushes against a common bearing face. Shunt members 40 may be provided in connection with the brushes 23 in any manner well known in the I art and secured in Contact with the body member I2 of the brush holder, such as by means of screws 42 for providing good electrical contact between the brush 23 and the Abody member I2 of the holder. A connector lug 44 may be provided integral with the body of the holder to facilitate current connections thereto as, for example, the connecting cable 45 of Fig. 7.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate an 'alternate form of our invention wherein the body member of the brush holder may, i'or example, comprise merely a plate member 5I having a brush-bearing face I4, and an end support plate `I6 integrally formed therewith. Support means'such as the stud I8 and guide I9 may, as in the preferred form of our invention, be formed integral with the support plate I6 in a forging operation. Brush biasing means may be provided comprising, for example, a plurality of spring members 53 disposed in spaced relation on a support pin 54, being separated by an interposed sleeve 56 and maintained in operating position by means of a cotter pin 58. The support pin 54 may be an'integral partof the holder or may be secured in relation thereto by virtue of a press fit inan opening 59 therein, or by any other desirable construction. As herein shown, the spring members 53 may be of the coiled clock-spring type, being coiled about thesupport pin 54 with one tip thereof inserted in a longitudinal slot 69 in the pin. The free end of the spring may then be disposed for engagement with a brush 23v to urge 'it against the brush bearing face I4 and' against the commutator 39. End projections 22 may, as in the preferred form of brush holder, be provided for preventing axial movement of the brushes .along'the'` brush'bearingfface I4, and shunts-maybe provided: lforfsecuring good elec.- tric'al` connection between the-`r brush and the holder, whilev a threadedrv connector member 62 provides' for making external electricalv connection to the holder.

Referring to Figs; 'I and 8 'ofi thedrawingait maybe-seen that in practicing our invention, the brush holder I0 may be mounted in a dynamoelectric machine by the use of a support ring110`, which is provided with guide grooves 12 and slotted'y openings 14 inv association therewith. Referring toFig. 8', it may be seen thatthe guide member I9 of the holder Ill-may be positioned.y in the groove 12, andthe support plate Ivof the holder may be'drawn into close engagement' with theff'ace of' the-support ring by tightening a nut 15'1on` the support'` stud' 'I8' which'fis inserted in the 'slot' 14'. 'In' order toposition the support ring 10 in a dynamo-electricfmachineg mounting holes 16' may be providedA in the ring: for engagementl with support rmembers of any'desirable nature, thus providing a unitaryl brush holder assembly which may be easily and accurately positioned'in the machine, and may be used with different sizes 'of machines' byadjustment of the brush holderson the ring.

Since the position of the center of contact of a brush with the commutator is a critical factor in the operation of dynamo-electric machines of the cross-field type with which our invention is primarily adapted to be practiced, the groove 12 and slots 14 may be located as shown in Fig. 'l being offset from the center line of the brush, but parallel thereto. In this manner adjustment of the brush holder may be effected relative to the commutator surface for compensating for commutator wear without shifting the position of the electrical center of brush contact on the commutator. This result may not be readily effected in brush holder designs wherein the brush is located at some distance from the support stud and adjustment of the holder is about the stud. It may furthermore be realized that with reaction type brush holders of the design as used in our invention, where the brush must necessarily be inclined at an angle to the surface of the commutator in order to permit @he operation of such a type of brush holder whereinthe brush is not enclosed on all sides, any excessive movement of the brush relative to the holder, as would occur with wear of the commutator, would result in a shift of the center of brush contact on the commutator. It is, therefore, essential to provide for adjustment of the holder itself along an axis which is not radial but is offset so as to maintain the center of brush contact on the desired radial centerline as the commutator wears.

By utilizing our design of unitary brush holder which is simple in construction, we have found that it` is possible to manufacture such a brush holder by a forging operation whereby the brushbearing face I4 and the end support IS face may be formed with sufcient accuracy in a single operation so as to require no subsequent expensive machining in order to secure the required smoothness of surfaces for satisfactory operation. In this manner, a brass 0r bronze brush holder may be readily formed in a commercial manufacturing operation such as by forging, permitting production in large quantities without involving any of the diiculties heretofore encountered in the manufacture of brush holders. inasmuch as brush holders of suchmaterials,

which not only; have? the necessary,u conductivity and mechanical strength, but are alsoihighlycore rosion-resistant,' could'not-heretofore be readily manufactured by'mass production. methods, owing to the expensive preforming, broaching'or other` machining operations necessary to produce the required degreeV of accuracy in 'dimensions and'. smoothness of surface, it mustv be realized that We have byl ourinvention madea valuable `and practical advancement' intheart of brush holder devices.

Since certain changesmay be made int the alcove construction, and different embodiments may be made-without departing from thev scope thereof, `it'isintended that all the matter contained in theabove description, or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be considered"` as v illustrative and nojtin a limitingI sense;

We claim: aszour invention:

1.Tl1e combination in a brush holderdevice for dynamo-electricmachine, of a body mem.- oer having an open brush-bearing face and an face having an integral support stud, and a support ringA cooperative with said end faceand support stud for positioning the holder in the machine.

2. In a brush holder device, in combination;A a main body member having a brush-bearing face and a holder aligning face in predetermined relation, a support stud integral with the aligning face, a slotted support ring, and guide means integral with the aligning face cooperative with a slot in the support ring to permit adjustment of the holder.

3. In a brush holder, the combination of a forged body member having an open brushbearing face and a holder aligning face disposed substantially at right angles thereto, resilient means for maintaining a brush in engagement with the bearing face and biasing it against a current conducting member, and means including a stud integral with the aligning face for positioning the holder.

4. A brush holder comprising a body member having a brush-bearing face and an end face in fixed relation, means for resiliently urging a brush against and along the bearing face, and means including an integral stud member cooperative with the end face for supporting the holder in predetermined alignment.

5,-A brush holder for dynamo-electric mashines, comprising, in combination, a forged body member having a brush-bearing surface and an end faceforged in predetermined relation with said brush-bearing surface, resilient means for urging a brush against and along the bearing surface, and means including an integral stud member cooperative with the end face of the body member for supporting the holder in predetermined alignment.

6. A brush holder assembly for a dynamo-electric machine comprising, an insulated support ring, a brush holder body member having a brush-bearing face and a brush holder aligning end face formed substantially at right angles thereto, resilient means for biasing a brush against the bearing face and urging it longitudinally to contacta moving conductor surface,

means for securing the brush yholder end face against the support ring, and a guide member associated with the end face to align the holder.

"1. In a reaction type brush holder for dynamoelectric machines, incombination, a body member having an open brush-bearing surface for aligning a plurality of brushes and a holder end face,

(iii

resiliently biased members Afor; urging the brushes against and along the brush-'bearing surface, and a stud member `integral with the -end-4 face for mountingfthe holdersaboutz-,an axis within the areav of brush contact. 'y

'8. The combination in a brush holder, of a body memberihaving an open brush-bearing face and a holder end vface disposed in predetermined relation, means for limiting'axial motion of a brush across the bearing face, means for resiliently urg-y ing a brush against and along the bearing face, and means associated With the-end face for aligning the `holder and mounting it "about" an axis substantially Within the bodymember.

9. In a reaction type brush holder, in combination, Aa bodymember having an open-bearing survmutatorA Wear Without` altering ,supportring. i

10. 'The combination lin a brush v holden device for-a dynamo-electric machine, of a body member having-a brush-bearing face and a holder aligningface in predetermined xed relation, means i011- urging a brush against the bearing face and against a commutator surface, an integral support "member and a guide member cooperative with the surface of the aligning face for positioning the holder, and means including a support ring cooperative with thev support member and guide member for positioning the holder and permitting adjustment ofthe vholder to compensate for comthe position of brush Contact with the'commutator, f

l l1. In combination With-a dynamo-electric machine, a-brush holder of the reaction type having abody member. with a brush-bearing face and an vend faoenin denite relation, guide` means integral v:WiththesuppOrt face,v a support ringjadaptedto cooperate Withthe guide means and support face to position ythe holder bearing face in predetermined angular relation with a ,commutator vsurface, and meansfor securing the holder .to the -'fHEoDoRE c. FOCKLER.` ALBERT MARTENS. f 

